vBulletin Forum Sideblocks - VC_Countdown (FORUM BLOCK)

D E S C R I P T I O N

Countdown timer for forum sidebars that is configurable from the admin control panel. This countdown timer will calculate the remaining time left to reach your targeted event according to the GMT Time Zone Offset that you have pre-set in the admincp (VC_Countdown options). This countdown will expire at the same moment in time for all viewers, regardless of their separate time zones.

You can count down to any future month/day/time within the next 12 months.

This countdown timer is ideal for counting down to:
- have competitors meet at the same time for tournaments on gaming servers (which is what I have used it for)
- for fixed term offers
- for items available in X days
- for sale begins in X days time
or for whatever else tickles your fancy.

This is a no-frills countdown timer but there are no files to upload to your server and there is no need to fiddle around with templates and codes to adjust the countdown expiry date.
You can easily adjust this countdown display to suit forum sidebar widths from 165px to 300px.

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Import Product
Plugins & Products / Manage Products / Add/Import Product
Import: product-vc_countdown.xml

2. Create Forum Block
Forums & Moderators / Forum Blocks Manager / Add Block

Select Block Type: Custom HTML/PHP
Title: Event Timer (or whatever you prefer)
Description: VC_Countdown Event Timer
Content Type: HTML
Content: <div></div>
Template to use: block_VC_Countdown

3. Configure VC_Countdown
Admincp / Settings / Options / VC_Countdown

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PLEASE NOTE: I have only tested this as working on 4.0.8 PL4.
Confirmed working well on 4.1.3 by rammieone

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Updates:
v1.0.3
Removed superfluous css
Added css to enable proper font-color control over all four strings of text
Added ability to include background image
v1.0.4
Added 4 levels of bgimage transparency
Added bgimage 100% height & width of forum block container
Removed option for image:repeat
Added padding options for between (Event Name & top of forum block) and (Event Name & Countdown Numbers)
v1.0.5
Removed "X Days from Now" option (If you don't experience save/default problems using version 1.0.4 there is no need to update to 1.0.5)

[ProFifaLeagues]

Confirmed working well on 4.1.3 too thank you

[oldlock]

Great mod. One question - any idea how to align the output so it's central in the block ? Std <center> tags don't seem to work. ?

[socialteenz]

Thank you.
INSTALLED.

[midnz]

Originally Posted by oldlock

Great mod. One question - any idea how to align the output so it's central in the block ? Std <center> tags don't seem to work. ?

Have you set the 1st option "FORUM SIDEBAR WIDTH" correctly? That setting should centralise the output according to the width of your forum sidebar.

If you have already set that option correctly and the output is not properly aligned, would you mind providing a link for me to view and also list the browser you're using?

[ceho]

oldlock seems to be right, I have the same issue, width is set correctly, on Opera and FF. I am playing around with the mod, it's actually cool. The event name font color doesn't work from the ACP (condition is missing in the CSS of the template), but that's not a big deal. What I really don't get is to add any extra content to the block, whatever I try it's "only" showing the countdown, I cannot add an image or anything like this. Any idea how to solve this? Otherwise it's a great mod, I have been looking for something like this for a while . Thanks!

Edit: never mind, I wrote the extras right into the template, that worked ;-).

[midnz]

Originally Posted by ceho

oldlock seems to be right, I have the same issue, width is set correctly, on Opera and FF. I am playing around with the mod, it's actually cool. The event name font color doesn't work from the ACP (condition is missing in the CSS of the template), but that's not a big deal. What I really don't get is to add any extra content to the block, whatever I try it's "only" showing the countdown, I cannot add an image or anything like this. Any idea how to solve this? Otherwise it's a great mod, I have been looking for something like this for a while . Thanks!

Edit: never mind, I wrote the extras right into the template, that worked ;-).

I noticed that I missed an option to change the font colour of the counter numbers ... oops! I've already added that option in to an updated .xml that I'm working on as well as removed some superfluous style code that either wasn't necessary or interfered with the alignment of the Expired Notice. (attached - removed attachment)

I'm not sure yet why the display might not be aligned properly for some people.
All of the text within the display should be aligned centre as per the style sheet within the template.
The main div was made to be 20px smaller than the width of the forum sidebar; IE: If your sidebar is 180px wide, and you select the first option (FORUM SIDEBAR WIDTH) at 180px, then the main countdown div would be reduced to 160px. So you could select the next higher option (FORUM SIDEBAR WIDTH) to see if that helps with alignment.

You might want to share how you managed to include a bgimage for the sake of others want to do that too.
You might also want to click that "Mark as Installed" button

[oldlock]

Thanks. Changing the width solved my issue.

[midnz]

Version 1.0.3
- added an option to include a background image
- tidied up some CSS

[ProFifaLeagues]

Update works great again with 4.1.3 Thanks mate superb work